Tips for Beginner Cooks (Units of Measurement)
Anyone who has experimented in the kitchen at least once has encountered “units of measurement” such as a tablespoon of salt or a cup of coffee oil. And you’ve probably wondered if you would do something wrong. That’s why, so you can be a little more confident next time, we offer you a short but very valuable guide to measuring products “by eye”.
And one more thing – don’t forget that the skill is mastered by practice, so don’t worry about making mistakes! You can get an unexpectedly good result, because the real culinary art is a passion that requires love, desire and a small dose of madness.
How to measure products without a kitchen scales?
1 pinch = about 1 g (salt, sugar, flour, red and black pepper)
1 handful of salt = about 80 g
1 lump of sugar = about 6 g
1 medium egg = about 50 g
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If you do not like cooking or just want to try something new and different, welcome to our restaurant “Simona”. Along with the pleasant art atmosphere, we promise you a unique taste that delights the senses.
Why the Chocolate is So Favorite
Chocolate is not just one of the many existing desserts – it is a real temptation. And if you’re wondering why so many people around the world can’t resist it, even though it’s quite high in calories and it’s not good to overdo it, we’ll answer right away. The benefits outweigh the harms.
Why Do We Love Chocolate?
First of all, because it is so tasty and there are no two opinions on this issue. In addition, the slow melting of a bar of chocolate in the mouth can be compared to a passionate kiss – it increases the waves on which the brain works and increases the heart rate. This is confirmed by a 2007 study by scientists from the University of Sussex.
Pros of Chocolate
Naturally Analgesic
It may sound strange, but it’s true. The reason is that when it enters our stomach, the cocoa contained in it stimulates the additional production of endorphins and activates the pleasure centers. This, according to experts, can reduce real pain, and we tend to believe them.
Makes the Skin More Radiant and Young
The claim is made by German researchers, according to which chocolate absorbs ultraviolet light and protects the skin from aging. It also increases blood flow.
Gives Energy
This must well known by everyone. The good thing about chocolate is that, unlike energy drinks, it does not lead to a sharp drop in energy after a while.
It Makes us Smarter
In 1996, a study was published claiming that the smell of chocolate was soothing. Another study 10 years later showed that consuming more cocoa products increased blood flow to the brain after 5 weeks.
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We at Simona Restaurant also love chocolate, as well as experimenting with it. Welcome to share the pleasure of temptingly delicious food together.
Dietary Summer Cocktails for a Great Mood
Summer somehow predisposes us to be more cheerful and adventurous. Well, not everyone can afford to be somewhere on the beach during all the warm months, so we at Art Hotel Simona will help you smile with the recipes for some easy, dietary and quite pleasant cocktails. Some of them are ideal for people who avoid alcohol, too.
Top 5 diet summer cocktails
We start with the non-alcoholic cocktails that you can cool off with, even when you are at work. Aromatic, fresh and quite pleasant… In addition, you do not need to worry about calories, because they are as small as possible. If you still prefer to relax with a little alcohol, know that there are such dietary ones. Just enjoy the taste.
Raspberry Smoothie with Poppy Seeds and Coconut
- 300 g of raspberries;
- 500 ml of coconut water;
- 3 tbsp. agave syrup;
- 2 tbsp. poppy powder;
- Chia for sprinkling;
- Lemon for arranging.
It will take you 10 minutes, and you will have cocktails for three people and the party can begin. Before that, however, clean and wash the fruits, then put them in a blender with agave syrup (if you do not have, you can replace it with honey), maca and coconut water. Mix well and serve in tall glasses, sprinkle with chia on top and decorate with fresh Lemon balm leaves.
Warning: If you have not heard of maca, we will tell you immediately. This is the edible root of a plant coming from the Peruvian Andes. It is rich in carbohydrates and charges the body with energy, strength and endurance. It also helps against stress, tension and depression.
Orange Slash with Pineapple
- 2 tsp frozen pineapple slices;
- 1 tsp Orange juice;
- 1 soda (lemon or lime flavored).
Put everything in a blender, but add the orange juice gradually until it mixes homogeneously with the other ingredients. If you also want some alcohol, you can add Bacardi.
Lemonade with Strawberries and Basil
- 500 ml of water;
- 500 ml soda;
- 8/9 large strawberries;
- 7/8 basil leaves;
- 2 limes;
- Ice.
Pour the water and soda into a jug, then add the strawberries and basil leaves. Squeeze one lime in the jug and cut the other into slices and also add it to the other ingredients. Then cool for about an hour, add ice and you can serve. If you want the cocktail to be a little stronger, add rum to your liking.
Kiwi Daiquiri
- 45 ml of white rum;
- 1 kiwi;
- 1 tbsp. lime juice;
- ¼ tsp lemon peel;
- 2 tsp. agave nectar;
- 250 ml of ice.
Peel and slice the kiwi, then beat all the ingredients in a blender and serve in a cold glass decorated with pieces of kiwi.
Margarita Hibiscus
- 45 ml of tequila;
- 120 ml of iced hibiscus tea;
- 1 tsp agave nectar;
- Ice.
Put everything in a shake and beat, then strain and serve in martini glasses. Rub the rim of the cup with orange peel and use it as a decoration.
The Metamorphoses of a Favorite Bulgarian Salad – the Shepherd’s
The favorite Bulgarian salad is the Shopska salad. However, the Ovcharska is wonderfull, too.
Prototype of the Shepherd’s Salad
Nowadays the Ovcharska salad is very popular and we often experiment with what we have in the fridge, but it actually originates from a recipe with less ingredients. The prototype is the Rhodope salad – Shopska, but without cheese. Cubes of chilled boiled potatoes and /or ripe well cooked and chilled beans are added to it. If you don’t like beans, there is another option – with a topping of slightly acidic broth with veiled eggs and pieces of meat (pastrami, fillet, dried meat).
According to the original recipe, dried samardala (the secret ingredient of the Bulgarian colored salt), garlic and vinegar are also added.
And something very important – in the original Rhodope salad no mushrooms, parsley and olives are used. However, these are put in the modern versions of both the Rhodope and the shepherd’s salad.
History of Shepherd’s Salad
Shepherd’s salad authorship is not entirely clear, but it is certainly known that it has nothing to do with the shepherd’s table, as most of you probably assume. As we mentioned, the classic recipe for Shepherd’s salad starts from the Rhodope salad. In the 1960s, however, it was changed due to the prescription innovations of Balkantourist and acquired a new look, and with it a new name.
Officially in the menus of restaurants Shepherd’s salad found a place in the 90s of last century and very quickly gained popularity. The reason for this is the fact that the flavors combine very well and it is established as one of the favorites in our country.
Turkish Influence
Our Shepherd’s salad is traditional for bulgarians, but it coexists with a very similar Turkish salad – Choban salad. Experts suggest that the Turkish version is a common traditional basis for salads prepared in the Balkans within the Ottoman Empire by Bulgarians, Serbs, Greeks and Turks.
How to Prepare Shepherd’s Salad in Simona Restaurant?
This much-loved traditional salad is also part of the menu at Simona Restaurant. And here are the steps for its preparation:
The shepherd’s Salad at the Simona Restaurant
To begin with, blanch mushrooms, bake a red pepper and boil an egg for 6 minutes. Then peel and cut a cucumber into large cubes, tomato – again into cubes, and onion – into small pieces. We also cut ham and grate yellow cheese. Finally, grate the cheese and decorate with the egg, parsley and olive kalamata cut into 4 equal parts.
What will surely impress you with us, apart from the great taste, of course, is the presentation. Arrange the yellow cheese, mushrooms, ham and peppers in four separate piles, separated by an egg, and in the middle are the tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and cheese. This leaves you the opportunity to include in the Shepherd’s salad exactly what you love the most.
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We are waiting for you in the Simona Restaurant with plenty of appetizing and beautiful looking dishes. For us, cooking is not just cooking good food, but an art in which we “burn”.
Light Dinner for the Whole Family
After staying home in recent months, probably some of us have gained weight. Well, although the threat of COVID-19 has not yet completely passed, the total isolation is over and we can now move on. To make it easier to deal with the weight, we at Art Hotel Simona will help you.
What is a healthy dinner?
The great taste is not necessarily associated with many hours in the kitchen. And one more thing, according to experts, the right diet is essential not only for our top form, but also for the good state of our mind. It is now clear why it is so important to treat food with care.
A healthy dinner should provide approximately between 20% and 30% of the energy contribution of the day. Although it is true that at night we will not burn the same calories as during the rest of the day, our body continues to work and therefore it is necessary to provide the necessary amount of energy. It is important to note that whether it is lunch or dinner, our menu must include fruits and vegetables, whole grains and protein.
Quick options for a light summer dinner that the whole family will love
*Rules:
- Half a plate of fruits or vegetables;
- A quarter plate of whole grains;
- A quarter of a plate of protein.
Salmon with vegetables
Who doesn’t like salmon?! It is very tasty, easy for preparating and it has the highest level of Omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is considered one of the foods that increase the body’s defenses.
Recommendation: Put salmon fillets in aluminum foil and put vegetables next to them – tomatoes, asparagus or broccoli. Put in the oven for a few minutes and you’re done.
Eggs with vegetables
Eggs are among the favorite products in Bulgarian cuisine for several reasons. Light food that is prepared quickly and tastes great. You can also experiment as you see fit.
If you’re hungry and can’t wait for a more complicated recipe, just bet on scrambled eggs to which you can add vegetables or mushrooms. We just want to remind you that the recommended amount of eggs per week is 7.
Recommendation: Use mushrooms and fresh garlic to make scrambled eggs.
Vegetable cream soup
Soups are great for dinner because they are light and combine a mix of flavors. A good cream soup will tickle your palate and you will want more of it. Light, very simple and with many options. Among the very interesting soups is the one made of pumpkin, carrots and cheese, which you will fall in love with. If you are a fan of cream soups, we believe that the classic potato cream soup is also your favorite. Just boil the vegetables well, mash, add a little butter and milk, salt, pepper…
Favorite salads
Any improvisations with lettuce and iceberg are great for dinner. If you prefer something else, we believe that during the summer there are tomatoes and cucumbers in every home, so here’s another idea – everyone’s favorite Shopska salad. Another slightly richer option is the Shepherd’s salad (Ovcharska salad).
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If you prefer to enjoy the pleasant emotions, let us in the Simona Restaurant to take care of the delicious end of the day. You can choose from a bunch of temptingly delicious offers in the artistic and cozy atmosphere with us. We promise you will be satisfied, because for us cooking is not just cooking delicious food, but – art.
The Oldest Restaurants in the World (PHOTOS)
Nowadays, new restaurants are constantly appearing, offering a variety of menus and interesting interiors. However, according to research, 60% of them fail in the first year, and 80% of them – in the first 5 years. And yet there are some who have withstood the changes, competition and high demands of customers for many years. That’s why we present 7 of the oldest restaurants in the world, collected by the site oldest.org.
The Oldest Restaurants in the World
St. Peter Stiftskeller, Salzburg, Austria (803)
Would you believe that this place open for the first time in 803?! In fact, this is the year in which the restaurant was first mentioned by an English scholar who served Emperor Charlemagne. So it may have existed before. That is why St. Peter Stiftskeller is considered to be the oldest not only in Europe but in the whole world.
The building in which it is housed has undergone many renovations over time, but much of the original vision has been preserved because it is carved into the stone rocks. And here’s something else quite impressive – people like Mozart and Christopher Columbus had been eat in this inn.
However, do not adjust that you will now be greeted with dishes popular centuries ago. The restaurant serves traditional Austrian dishes with a modern European look from locally produced products. And if you want to try the specialties there, you will probably be able to book a table for the next day.
Zum Franziskaner, Stockholm, Sweden (1421)
Compared to St. Peter Stiftskeller Zum Franziskaner is brand new because it exists since 1421. It was founded by German monks, with the permission of King Eric of Pomerania. The food served in the restaurant combines the German roots of the founders with the aromas of the local Scandinavian cuisine.
However, we must make one clarification – Zum Franziskaner is not located in its original building. However, food and drink have remained the same as nearly 600 years ago. So here you can try a unique country sausage, Bavarian roast pork or venison with some of the typical German beers.
Honke Owariya, Kyoto, Japan (1465)
A little more than 40 years after the appearance of the Swedish Zum Franziskaner the Japanese had opened a similar place. Honke Owariya in Kyoto began operating in 1465 as a confectionery shop, moved from the Owari region. Initially, it became popular with its rice cakes, but gradually began to make Soba noodles (with high-quality buckwheat flour). The real secret of the special taste of this dish of theirs to this day is in the clear water of Kyoto, according to the team of the current restaurant.
La-Tour-d’Argent, Paris, France (1582)
This is a restaurant with Michelin stars – three at a time, but in 1996 it lost one of them, and ten years later it parted ways with another one star. The administration claims that among their former clients are King Henry IV. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Marlene Dietrich and Charlie Chaplin. One thing is for sure, the restaurant has been making Parisian dinners special since 1582.
Zur Letzten Instanz, Berlin, Germany (1621)
Another great place with an impressively long history. And for eating there you will not have to wait so long because you could usually book a table for the next day. Clients in the past included Napoleon Bonaparte, Ludwig van Beethoven, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Although the building is one of the oldest in Berlin, it was renovated in 1963 after being severely damaged during World War II. For this reason, the interior is not entirely authentic, but the current design reflects the style of the original tavern from 1621.
White Horse Tavern, Rhode Island, USA (1673)
The building was built in 1652 and in 1673 was sold to William Mace, who opened a tavern. As the building is quite large, it was used at times as a court, town hall and meeting place for the Rhode Island General Assembly. It even served to separate British and American troops during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
The place was restored in 1954 with a donation from the Von Beren family, and the restaurant reopened in 1957.
Sobrino de Botín, Madrid, Spain (1725)
This is the restaurant that holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest in the world, although everyone else on our list dates from before this one. The reason for this is the fact that it is located in its original building, with an authentic interior from the 18th century.
It was originally named Casa Botin and was opened by a French chef named Jean Botin and his Austrian wife. The family had no children and therefore bequeathed the restaurant to Mrs. Botin’s niece. It was thus renamed Sobrino de Botin, as in Spanish sobrino means nephew. The list of famous guests includes Ernest Hemingway, Frederick Forsythe, Graham Greene and James A. Mitchener.
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If you live in Sofia or have a work here, welcome to the Simona restaurant and Art Hotel Simona. We can not boast of such a remarkable story, but on the other hand we have temptingly delicious dishes that will make eating an unforgettable experience.
… Because for us cooking is an art!
